Drape Hangable In Multiple Configurations

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed a drape hangable, selectively, in differing configurations, the drape comprising: a plurality of fasteners secured at horizontally spaced intervals in an upper marginal region of the drape for releasably securing tabs for hanging the drape from a curtain rod; a plurality of curtain rod pockets secured at horizontally spaced intervals in the marginal region for receiving a curtain rod longitudinally inserted through a selected number of the curtain rod pockets; a plurality of tie loops secured at horizontally spaced intervals in the marginal region, each for receiving an associated tie for hanging the drape from a curtain rod. Kits for selectively hanging a drape in different configurations are also disclosed.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application 60/886,393 filed on Jan. 24, 2007, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

This application relates to drape designs having multiple hanging configurations.

BACKGROUND

The prior art discloses a range of drapery designs adapted to be hangable in more than one configuration. This includes U.S. Pat. No. 5,738,159 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,894,876 to O'Brien, both of which disclose a curtain design including loops and button fasteners to allow the drape to be hung from a curtain rod in a number of possible styles.

SUMMARY

In an embodiment there is disclosed a drape hangable, selectively, in differing configurations, the drape comprising: a plurality of fasteners secured at horizontally spaced intervals in an upper marginal region of the drape for releasably securing tabs for hanging the drape from a curtain rod; a plurality of curtain rod pockets secured at horizontally spaced intervals in the marginal region for receiving a curtain rod longitudinally inserted through a selected number of the curtain rod pockets; a plurality of tie loops secured at horizontally spaced intervals in the marginal region, each for receiving an associated tie for hanging the drape from a curtain rod.

In further embodiments the drape may further comprise a plurality of hook pockets secured at horizontally spaced intervals in the upper marginal region each pocket for receiving an associated drapery hook in a drape hanging position.

In further embodiments the drape may have a height and the upper marginal region may be adapted for releasably attaching to the region a header for increasing the height, the header may include a plurality of grommet openings at horizontally spaced intervals for receiving a curtain rod.

In further embodiments the drape may include a header for increasing the height, and releasably attachable to the marginal region, the header may include a plurality of grommet openings at horizontally spaced intervals for receiving a curtain rod.

In further embodiments the releasable attaching may be accomplished by a zipper or by cooperating hook and loop structures.

In further embodiments an individual one of the fasteners may be grouped in association with an individual one of the rod pockets; and with an individual ones of the tie loops.

In further embodiment drape may be provided as part of a kit for hanging the drape selectively in different configurations. The kit may comprise: the drape according to an embodiment; and b) a plurality of connectors and instructions on how to use the connectors to hang the drape. In further alternative embodiments of the kit, the drape may further include a reversibly attachable header and the connectors may be ties, drapery hooks, or rings.

Features and advantages of the subject matter disclosed will become more apparent in light of the following detailed description of some embodiments thereof, as illustrated in the accompanying FIGS. As will be realized, the various embodiments are capable of modifications in various respects and may be combined in a variety of alternative ways, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims. Accordingly, the drawings and the description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an overall view of a drape of an embodiment mounted in a first configuration.

FIG. 2 is a close up exploded rear view of a portion of the drape of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a close up rear view of a portion of the drape of FIG. 1 mounted on a curtain rod.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the drape hung in an alternative configuration using tab loops.

FIG. 5 is an end view of the hanging configuration of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a detailed view of a tap loop.

FIG. 7 is a close up front view of the tab hanging of FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is a close up rear view of a drape according to FIG. 4.

FIG. 9 is a front view of a drape hung in a further alternative configuration.

FIG. 10 is a close up front view of the configuration of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a close up rear view of the configuration of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a front view of a drape hung in a further alternative configuration.

FIG. 13 is a close up front view of the configuration of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a close up rear view of the configuration of FIG. 12.

FIG. 15 is a front view of a further alternative configuration, hung using tie tabs.

FIG. 16 is a close up front view of the configuration of FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is a close up rear view of the configuration of FIG. 15.

FIG. 18 is an enlargement of the tie and loop arrangement of FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is an end view of the configuration of FIG. 18.

FIG. 20 is a front view of a further alternative configuration.

FIG. 21 is a rear view of a drape configured for hanging according to FIG. 20.

FIG. 22 is an enlargement of a part of FIG. 21 showing the relationship of hook pocket, tab loop and buttons.

FIG. 23 is a close up perspective view of the hook insertion according to FIG. 22

FIG. 24 is a close up end view of the hanging configuration according to FIG. 23.

FIG. 25 is a close up cross-sectional view of the hook insertion according to FIG. 24.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Definitions

“Connector” includes all structures useable to attach a drape to a curtain rod, and may include hooks, rings, loops, ties, tabs, ribbons, strings, slides, tie loops and similar structures.

“Curtain rod”, “rod”, “curtain rail” and like terms include all manner of rods, rails and other structures such as may be suitable for the hanging of a drape, without limitation curtain rods may include flattened, round and other shapes and may include channels, grooves, ridges, rims, or similar structures and may include associated hooks, loops, slides and other devices suitable to mediate attachment to a drape and optionally to permit movement of portions of an upper marginal region of the drape relative to the rod.

“Fastener” includes any structure or combination of structures suitable to attach a connector to a drape. Exemplary connectors may include buttons, press tabs, parts of a hook and loop combination (such as VELCRO™), hooks, snaps, pins, clips, zippers and equivalent structures.

“Grommet opening” includes all manner of openings, holes or orifices in a drape through which a curtain rod could be inserted to thereby hang the drape.

“Header” includes any type of extension to a drape and may be made of the same or different material from the drape itself and may be attached to the drape using VELCRO™, zipper arrangements, hooks and eyes or other fasteners in a range of other manners that will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

“Rod” includes any type or variety of rod, which may be substantially round, or may be of other cross sectional shapes and may include channels or guides for engagement with suitable cooperating connectors.

“Rod pocket”, “curtain rod pocket”, “rod loop” and “curtain rod loop” are used interchangeably and include a range of loops and projections associated with a drape and suitable to accept insertion or positioning of a curtain rod to thereby hang a drape on the curtain rod.

Description of Specific Embodiments

A first embodiment is described with reference to FIGS. 1 through 25. For clarity, not all structures are numbered in all drawings, and alternative illustrations may be numbered to draw attention to different features of an embodiment. A drape generally designated 2 has a height 4, a body 3 and is hangable, selectively, in differing configurations from a curtain rod 18. The drape comprises a plurality of fasteners 6 (6 a, 6 b), positioned in pairs secured at horizontally spaced intervals in an upper marginal region 12 of the drape 2 for releasably securing tabs 14 for hanging the drape from a curtain rod 18 as shown in FIG. 1. Tab 14 comprises a cooperating structure 19 (in this case button holes 19 a, 19 b) to accept fasteners 6 (6 a, 6 b in this case buttons). The drape also comprises a plurality of curtain rod pockets 20 (20 a, 20 b, 20 c) secured at horizontally spaced intervals in the marginal region 12 for receiving a curtain rod 18 longitudinally inserted through a selected number of curtain rod pockets 20. The drape also comprises a plurality of tie loops 24 (24 a, 24 b) secured at horizontally spaced intervals in the marginal region, each for receiving an associated tie tab 28 (28 a, 28 b) as shown in FIGS. 15-19, for hanging the drape from a curtain rod 18. In the embodiment shown the tie loops 24 are regularly spaced along with fasteners 6 and are also used to mount hook pockets 40. The drape also comprises a header 30 for increasing height 4, and which is releasably attachable to the marginal region by means of a zipper 32. As seen in FIG. 2, mating halves of the zipper are disposed on the header 30 and in upper marginal region 12 of body 3 of the drape 2. The header 30 includes a plurality of grommet openings 36 (36 a, 36 b, 36 c) at horizontally spaced intervals for receiving curtain rod 18. The drape further comprises a plurality of hook pockets 40, each one of which is secured to the face of an associated one of tie loops 24, and indirectly to upper marginal region 12. Each pocket is sized to receive an associated drapery hook 44 in a drape hanging position. In use and as seen in FIG. 24, hook 44 can be engaged with a suitable connector such as a ring 45 mounted in sliding arrangement with a curtain rail 47 having associated slides 49 or may be directly applied to a curtain rod. A range of alternative configurations for use of hooks 44 will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

In a first hanging configuration illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 the drape is mounted using grommet openings 36 in the detachable header 30.

In a further hanging configuration illustrated in FIGS. 4-8 the drape is hung using tab loops 14 whose spacing may be adjusted as desired by suitable selection of mounting locations.

Two alternative hanging configurations wherein the curtain rod is inserted through rod pockets 20 (20 a, 20 b, 20 c) are illustrated in FIGS. 9-11 and FIGS. 12-14 respectively. In the configuration illustrated in FIGS. 9-11 curtain rod 18 is inserted through only alternate rod pockets 20 (20 a and 20 c) thereby giving a first appearance with spaced “bunching” of the drape. In the alternative configuration illustrated in FIGS. 12-14 the curtain rod 18 is inserted through all consecutive rod pockets 20 a, 20 b and 20 c.

FIGS. 15-19 show a hanging configuration using tie tabs 28 (28 a, 28 b). The tie tabs are passed through tie tab loops 24 and are then tied over the curtain rod 18.

FIGS. 20-25 illustrate a further hanging configuration wherein the drape is hung using hooks 44 to hang the drape on a curtain rail 47.

It will be apparent that a range of modified hanging configurations and styles may be obtainable by selective use of different mounting points, every sequential mounting point may be used, alternate mounting points may be omitted, mounting points may be spaced by one, two or more omitted positions and so forth. A range of alternatives will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

In alternative embodiments the releasably attachable header region 12 may comprise grommet openings, eyelets, loops, tabs, channels, connectors, hook pockets or other structures suited to mounting the drape 2 on a curtain rod 18.

In alternative embodiments the drape may have a height 4 and may include a header 30 for increasing the height, and releasably attachable to the marginal region. The header 30 may include a plurality of grommet openings 36 at horizontally spaced intervals for receiving a curtain rod 18. In further alternative embodiments the releasable attaching may be accomplished by a zipper 32 or by cooperating hook and loop structures such as VELCRO™ designs.

In further alternative embodiments an individual one of the fasteners 6 may be grouped in association with an individual one of the rod pockets 20; and with an individual one of tie loops 24. FIGS. 14 and 22 demonstrate the grouping and spacing of sets of fasteners 6, rod pockets 20, tie loops 24, and rod pockets 40 in a repeating series of grouped structures. Similarly FIG. 3 illustrates the way in which these grouped structures may be further positioned to coincide with the positions of grommet openings 36.

As indicated above, the embodiments may also form part of a kit for hanging a drape selectively in different configurations. The kit comprises a drape 2 as disclosed herein; a plurality of connectors and instructions on how to use the connectors to hang the drape. In some embodiments of the kit, the drape may further include a reversibly attachable header 30 and the connectors may be or may include ties, drapery hooks, or rings.

It will be seen that by the selective use of fasteners, hook pockets, grommet openings, tie loops and the like, the drapes of particular embodiments can be selectively hung in different styles. Likewise it will be readily apparent that the fasteners, loops, rod pockets, hook pockets and other mounting structures may be arranged in alternative configurations without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject matter disclosed and claimed. For instance, fasteners may be provided in associated groups of one, two, three, four or more, hook and tie pockets may be provided in closely grouped pluralities, the length and disposition of rod pockets may be adjusted, and the spacing of particular mounting structures may be adjusted in a range of manners as desired to suit particular aesthetic and practical requirements.

The embodiments presented herein are illustrative of the general nature of the subject matter claimed and are not limiting. It will be understood by those skilled in the art how these embodiments can be readily modified and/or adapted for various applications and in various ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject matter disclosed claimed. The claims hereof are to be understood to include without limitation all alternative embodiments and equivalents of the subject matter hereof. Phrases, words and terms employed herein are illustrative and are not limiting. Where permissible by law, all references cited herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. It will be appreciated that any aspects of the different embodiments disclosed herein may be combined in a range of possible alternative embodiments, and alternative combinations of features, all of which varied combinations of features are to be understood to form a part of the subject matter claimed. 

1. A drape hangable, selectively, in differing configurations, said drape comprising: a plurality of fasteners secured at horizontally spaced intervals in an upper marginal region of the drape for releasably securing tabs for hanging the drape from a curtain rod; a plurality of curtain rod pockets secured at horizontally spaced intervals in said marginal region for receiving a curtain rod longitudinally inserted through a selected number of said curtain rod pockets; and a plurality of tie loops secured at horizontally spaced intervals in said marginal region, each for receiving an associated tie for hanging said drape from a curtain rod.
 2. The drape according to claim 1, wherein said drape further comprises a plurality of hook pockets secured at horizontally spaced intervals in said upper marginal region each pocket for receiving an associated drapery hook in a drape hanging position.
 3. The drape according to any one of claims 1 and 2, said drape having a height and wherein said upper marginal region is adapted for releasably attaching to said region a header for increasing said height, said header including a plurality of grommet openings at horizontally spaced intervals for receiving a curtain rod.
 4. The drape according to claim 3, wherein said releasable attaching is accomplished by a zipper or by cooperating hook and loop structures.
 5. The drape according to any one of claims 1 through 4, wherein an individual one of said fasteners, is grouped in association with an individual one of said curtain rod pockets; and with an individual one of said tie loops.
 6. A kit for hanging a drape selectively in different configurations, said kit comprising: the drape according to any one of claims 1 through 5; a plurality of connectors; and instructions on how to use said connectors to hang said drape.
 7. The kit according to claim 6, wherein said drape further includes a reversibly attachable header.
 8. The kit according to any one of claims 6 and 7, wherein said connectors comprise ties, drapery hooks, or rings.
 9. A drape hangable, selectively, in differing configurations, said drape having a height and comprising: a plurality of fasteners secured at horizontally spaced intervals in an upper marginal region of the drape for releasably securing tabs for hanging the drape from a curtain rod; a plurality of curtain rod pockets secured at horizontally spaced intervals in said marginal region for receiving a curtain rod longitudinally inserted through a selected number of said curtain rod pockets; a plurality of tie loops secured at horizontally spaced intervals in said marginal region, each for receiving an associated tie for hanging said drape from a curtain rod; and a header for increasing said height, and releasably attachable to said marginal region, said header including a plurality of grommet openings at horizontally spaced intervals for receiving a curtain rod.
 10. The drape according to claim 9, wherein said drape further comprises a plurality of hook pockets secured at horizontally spaced intervals in said upper marginal region each pocket for receiving an associated drapery hook in a drape hanging position.
 11. The drape according to claim 10, wherein said releasable attaching is accomplished by a zipper or by cooperating hook and loop structures.
 12. The drape according to any one of claims 9 through 11, wherein an individual one of said fasteners is grouped in association with an individual one of said rod loops; and with an individual one of said tie loops. 